Holder for SIM card

ABSTRACT

A holder for a cellular phone chip includes a card body having a first side and a second side and includes a sheet having edges attached to the first side of the card body. The sheet forms an open pouch on the card body. The cellular phone chip is insertable into and removable from the open pouch. The chip is substantially held within the pouch by an interference fit with the sheet and the first side of the card body. The card body can be approximately the same size as the chip or can be approximately the same size as a credit card. Multiple sheets forming multiple pouches can be attached to the card body. On side of the card body can have a fastener attached to the second side of the card body for attaching the card body to another item intended to carry the holder and cellular phone chip.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The subject matter of the present disclosure generally relates to a holder for a cellular phone chip and more particularly relates to a holder for one or more cellular phone chips that have a writeable surface for organizing the chips and that are attachable to or insertable in another carrier for carrying items.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM) is a predominant mobile phone standard around the world. GSM enables the same cellular phone to work in a number of countries. A cellular telephone uses a cellular phone chip, such as Subscriber Identity Module (SIM) card, GSM card, or a “smart chip.” Herein, such a cellular phone chip is referred to as a SIM card for clarity. The SIM card enables a customer to access an individual account for a particular wireless network in a specific country. SIM cards have standard dimensions of approximately 25-mm long, 15-mm wide, and less than 1-mm thick. The SIM card is typically provided as part of a larger card that is about the size of a credit card. To use the SIM card with a cellular phone, the SIM card is popped-out of the larger card and is installed into the cellular phone. The SIM card typically has a cutaway corner, which facilitates proper orientation of the SIM card when inserted in the cellular phone. Once the SIM card is inserted into the cellular phone, embedded circuitry on the card is electrically connected to internal circuitry of the cellular phone, allowing the cellular phone to be used with a wireless service on a particular GSM network.

Although some carriers provide GSM service in the United States, the infrastructure of the U.S. is not based on a GSM standard, and competing wire carriers have created other standards, such as CDMA and TDMA. In addition, the GSM standard used in the U.S. and Canada is not always compatible with those GSM services provided elsewhere in the world. For example, most GSM phones sold in the U.S. are only compatible with the nation-wide operating frequency of 1900-MHz or 850-MHz. In contrast, GSM services in other parts of the world may use 900 and/or 1800-MHz frequency standards. Furthermore, the GSM services for various countries in other parts of the world may be incompatible with one another.

Due to the differences in GSM services, a traveler may be unable to use their cellular phone in a specific country unless they have a compatible SIM card for that country. In addition, a traveler using a country-specific SIM card outside of its home country may incur expensive roaming charges even when using their cellular phone in countries having compatible networks. With unlocked cellular phones, however, a traveler may purchase several SIM cards for a number of countries where they may be traveling. The traveler can then swap out the SIM card in their phone when traveling to a specific country. Due to the small size of the SIM cards, travelers can have difficulty storing and carrying their SIM cards, and the SIM cards can be easily misplaced or damaged.

The SIM cards are available on a prepaid basis or on a contractual basis. Some prepaid SIM cards have a security mechanism in place that requires the subscriber to enter in a PIN code every time the GSM cell phone is turned on. When a PIN code has been assigned, it is important for the customer not to forget the PIN code. If customer incorrectly enters the PIN code, for example, then the GSM cell phone may be blocked after a number of attempts. If the phone becomes blocked, the customer may have to enter a PUK code to unblock the phone. If the customer enters the PUK code incorrectly, the SIM card may be blocked indefinitely.

For prepaid cards, a traveler can add more talk time to the SIM card by purchasing a recharge card and entering a PIN number from the recharge card into the phone. Recharge cards can usually be purchased at a number of locations, such as post offices, train stations, airports, convenience stores, magazine kiosks, and cell phone stores. If the traveler runs out of credit for the SIM card, they may have to purchase an entirely new SIM card at a high expense. This is true in a number of Asian countries, for example. Because each SIM card has its own unique phone number, PIN code, and other necessary information, travelers may have difficulty keeping track of the various SIM cards that they use when traveling.

The subject matter of the present disclosure is directed to overcoming, or at least reducing the effects of, one or more of the problems set forth above.

SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE

A holder for a cellular phone chip, such as a SIM card, is disclosed. The holder includes a card body having a first side and a second side and includes a sheet having edges attached to the first side of the card body. The card body is substantially rigid, and the sheet is substantially flexible. The sheet forms an open pouch on the card body. The cellular phone chip is insertable into and removable from the open pouch. When inserted, the chip is substantially held within the pouch by an interference fit with the sheet and the first side of the card body. The card body can be approximately the same size as the chip or can be approximately the same size as a credit card. Multiple sheets forming multiple pouches can be attached to the card body for holding several SIM cards.

One side of the card body can have a fastener attached to the second side of the card body for attaching the card body to another item intended to carry the holder and cellular phone chip. The fastener can be an adhesive, a tape, a button, a snap, or VELCRO. The holder can have a writable surface for a user to organize and keep track of their various chips used during travel. The writeable surface can be positioned on the card body or the sheet.

A carrier for items including a credit card and a cellular phone chip is disclosed. The carrier can be an organizer, a brief case, a piece of luggage, a calendar, a planner, a wallet, a computer case, a mobile phone carrier, or other such device. The carrier has a slot for holding the credit card. A holder for the cellular phone chip can be insertable into the slot. The holder includes a card body having a first side and a second side and includes a sheet having edges attached to the first side of the card body and forming an open pouch on the card body. The cellular phone chip is insertable into and removable from the open pouch. Once inserted, the chip is substantially held within the pouch by an interference fit with the sheet and the first side of the card body.

A carrier for items including a cellular phone chip is disclosed. The carrier can be an organizer, a brief case, a piece of luggage, a calendar, a planner, a wallet, a computer case, a mobile phone carrier, or other such device. The carrier has a surface on the carrier. A holder for the cellular phone chip includes a sheet having edges attached to the surface of the carrier and forming an open pouch on the surface. The cellular phone chip is insertable into and removable from the open pouch. Once inserted, the chip is substantially held within the pouch by an interference fit with the sheet and the first side of the card body.

The foregoing summary is not intended to summarize each potential embodiment or every aspect of the present disclosure.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The foregoing summary, preferred embodiments, and other aspects of subject matter of the present disclosure will be best understood with reference to a detailed description of specific embodiments, which follows, when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 illustrates an embodiment of a holder for a SIM card according to certain teachings of the present disclosure.

FIGS. 2A-2B illustrated the disclosed holder of FIG. 1 having various embodiments of fasteners.

FIGS. 3A-2B illustrate another embodiment of a holder for SIM card according to certain teachings of the present disclosure.

FIG. 4 illustrates a carrier having various embodiments of holders for SIM card according to certain teachings of the present disclosure.

While the disclosed holder for a cellular phone chip or SIM card is susceptible to various modifications and alternative forms, specific embodiments thereof have been shown by way of example in the drawings and are herein described in detail. The figures and written description are not intended to limit the scope of the inventive concepts in any manner. Rather, the figures and written description are provided to illustrate the inventive concepts to a person skilled in the art by reference to particular embodiments, as required by 35 U.S.C §112.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring to FIG. 1, an embodiment of a holder 20 for a cellular phone chip 10 used in a cellular phone according to certain teachings of the present disclosure is illustrated in a front view and a side view, respectively. For illustrative purposes only, the cellular phone chip 10 used herein is referred to as a SIM card, but the cellular phone chip 10 can be a GSM card, “smart chip,” or other such device used in a cellular telephone. The SIM card 10 typically has a height H₁ of about 2.5-cm, a width W₁ of about 1.5-cm, and a thickness T₁ of about 1-mm.

The holder 20 for the SIM card 10 includes a card body 22. The card body 22 has a first side 23 and a second side 25. In one embodiment, the card body 22 has a height H₂ of about 2¾-cm and a width W₂ of about 2-cm. The thickness can vary. However, the card body 22 is preferably, substantially rigid. The card body 22 can be manufactured from any number of suitable materials, including but not limited to plastic, wood, leather, or fabric. Preferably, the card body 22 is composed of a plastic, such as nylon, vinyl, polypropylene, polyethylene, or the like.

The holder 20 also includes a sheet 24 of material that is preferably, substantially flexible. The sheet 24 can be manufactured from any number of suitable materials, including but not limited to plastic, leather, or fabric. Preferably, the sheet 24 is composed of a plastic, such as nylon, vinyl, polypropylene, polyethylene, or the like. The sheet 24 has four edges 26, 28, 28′, and 29. Three adjacent edges 28, 29, and 28′ are attached to the card body 22. For the card body 22 and sheet 24 composed of plastic, the three adjacent edges 28, 29, and 28′ are attached to the card body 22 by techniques known in the art, such as heat cutting, heat welding, heat sealing, or gluing. The fourth edge 26 is unattached so that the edge 26 creates an opening for a pouch formed by the sheet 24 and card body 22. The SIM card 10 can be inserted into and removed from the pouch. Once inserted in the pouch, the SIM card 10 is substantially held within the pouch by an interference fit with the sheet 24 and the first side 23 of the card body 22.

Preferably, the fourth edge 26 has a substantially triangular cut where a central portion of the cut is closer to the opposite edge 29 of the sheet 24 than the ends of the cut adjacent the other edges 28 and 28′ of the sheet 24. The triangular cut allows a user to slide the SIM card 22 in and out of the pouch of the holder 22. In addition, the sheet 24 has a writable surface 30 that allows the user to write information, such as the specific country and pin number of the particular SIM card 10 inserted in the holder 20. In this way, the writable surface 30 helps the user to better organize and use their various SIM cards they carry. In the present embodiment, the writable surface 30 is positioned on the outside face of the sheet 24. In other embodiments, the writable surface 30 is positioned on the first side 23 or the second side 25 of the card body 22. The writable surface 30 can be formed by techniques known in the art. For example, the writable surface 30 can be a rough area or a porous coating on the surface of the sheet 24 or card body 22.

As best shown in the side view of FIG. 2A, the holder 20 includes a fastener 40 attached to the second side 25 of the card body 22 for attaching the card body 22 to another item (not shown) intended to carry the holder 20 and SIM card 10. In the present embodiment, the fastener 40 is a double-sided adhesive tape, which allows the holder 20 to be attached to the surface of any other item, such a cell phone, carrier, planner, organizer, briefcase, etc. In general, other adhesives, buttons, or fasteners can be used to attach the holder 20 to another item. In an alternative embodiment shown in FIG. 2B, for example, the holder 20 has a first portion 42 of a VELCRO fastener attached to the card body 22. The first portion 42 attaches to a second portion 43 of the VELCRO fastener attached to the surface of another item or carrier 80. In an alternative embodiment shown in FIG. 2C, for example, the holder 20 has a first portion 44 of a snap fastener attached to the card body 22. The first portion 44 attaches to a second portion 45 of the VELCRO fastener attached to the surface of another item or carrier 80.

Referring to FIG. 3A, another embodiment of a holder 50 for SIM cards 10 according to certain teachings of the present disclosure is illustrated in a front view. The holder 50 includes a card body 52 having a first side 54 and a second side 56. In one embodiment, the card body 52 has a height H₁ of about 8-cm and a width W₁ of about 5-cm, and a thickness T₁ of about 2-mm, which are dimensions substantially similar to a standard credit card. The card body 52 is preferably, substantially rigid and can be manufactured from any number of suitable materials, including but not limited to plastic, wood, leather, or fabric. Preferably, the card body 22 is composed of a plastic, such as nylon, vinyl, polypropylene, polyethylene, or the like.

Two sheets 60 are attached adjacent one another on the first side 54 of the card body 52. Each sheet 60 is substantially similar to that disclosed above and is preferably, substantially flexible. The sheet 60 can be manufactured from any number of suitable materials, including but not limited to plastic, leather, or fabric. Preferably, the sheet 60 is composed of a plastic, such as nylon, vinyl, polypropylene, polyethylene, or the like. Each sheet 60 has four edges 62, 64, 64′, and 66. Three adjacent edges 64, 66, and 64′ are attached to the card body 52. For the card body 52 and sheet 60 composed of plastic, the three adjacent edges 64, 66, and 64′ are attached to the card body 52 by techniques known in the art, such as heat cutting, heat welding, or gluing. The fourth edge 62 is unattached so that the edge 62 creates an opening for a pouch formed by the sheet 60 and card body 52.

As before, SIM cards 10 can be inserted into or removed from the open pouches formed by the sheets 60 and card body 52. When inserted, the SIM cards 10 can be substantially held within the pouches by an interference fit with the sheets 60 and the first side 54 of the card body 52. The card body 52 includes writable surfaces 30 positioned on the first side 54 adjacent the sheets 60 for a user to write information pertaining to the various SIM cards 10 on the holder 50.

In one embodiment of the disclosed holder 50, two additional sheets 60 can be attached to the other side 56 of the card body 52. In this way, a cellular phone customer can hold up to four SIM cards 10 on the disclosed holder 50. In an alternative embodiment shown in FIG. 3B, a larger sheet 70 can be attached to the other side 56 of the card body 52. This larger sheet 70 can be attached to the card body 52 in much the same way as described herein. For example, the edges 74, 74′ and 76 of the material for the sheet 70 can be attached to the card body 52, and the edge 72 can be left unattached to the card body 52. The larger sheet 70 can be used to hold recharge cards for the SIM cards 10, credit cards, business cards, or the like.

Referring to FIG. 4, a carrier 80 is illustrated having various embodiments of holders 20, 50, and 90 for SIM cards 10 according to certain teachings of the present disclosure. In the present example, the disclosed carrier 80 is an organizer that a traveler might use to carry items, such as credit cards, identification, passport, and the like. In general, the disclosed carrier 80 can be an organizer, a brief case, a piece of luggage, a calendar, a planner, a wallet, a computer case, a mobile phone carrier, or other such device.

In one embodiment, the carrier 80 has one or more surfaces 82, which are typically contained within the carrier 80 when closed. An embodiment of the disclosed holder 20 for a SIM card 10, such as such as described above with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2A-2C, can be attached to the surface 82 of the carrier 80. One or more of such holders 20 can be attached to the carrier 80 to store a traveler's various SIM cards 10. As noted above, the disclosed holder 20 has a fastener (40 in FIG. 1B) on one side of the holder that can be used to attach the holder 20 to the surface 82 of the carrier 80. As noted above, the fastener can include adhesive, double-sided tape, button, snap, or VELCRO. In one example, the fastener (40 in FIG. 1B) on the holder 20 can be one portion of a VELCRO fastener. A corresponding portion 42 of the VELCRO fastener can be attached to the surface 82 by techniques known in the art, such as stitching, gluing, or taping.

In another embodiment of the disclosed carrier 80, an embodiment of holders 90 for SIM cards 10 can be directly formed on the surface 82 of the carrier 80 to store a traveler's various SIM cards 10 on the carrier 80. The disclosed holder 90 has a sheet 92 having edges 94, 94′, and 96 attached to the surface 82 of the carrier 80 and forming an open pouch on the surface 82. Thus, a SIM card 10 can be inserted into the open pouch of the holder 90 and can be substantially held within the pouch by an interference fit with the sheet 92 and the surface 82 of the carrier 80. The sheet 92 can be made from the same material as the surface 82 of the carrier 80, which can be leather, plastic, or fabric, for example. The sheet 92 can be attached to the surface 82 by techniques known in the art, such a gluing, stitching, or heat welding. In yet another embodiment, the carrier 80 includes a slot 82 for holding a credit card or other such item. An embodiment of the disclosed holder 50, such as described above with reference to FIGS. 2A-2B, can be inserted into the slot 82 to store a traveler's various SIM cards 10.

The foregoing description of preferred and other embodiments is not intended to limit or restrict the scope or applicability of the inventive concepts conceived of by the Applicants. In exchange for disclosing the inventive concepts contained herein, the Applicants desire all patent rights afforded by the appended claims. Therefore, it is intended that the appended claims include all modifications and alterations to the full extent that they come within the scope of the following claims or the equivalents thereof. 

1. A holder for a cellular phone chip, comprising: a card body having a first side and a second side and being substantially rigid; a sheet having edges attached to the first side of the card body and forming an open pouch on the card body, the sheet being substantially flexible; wherein the cellular phone chip is insertable into and removable from the open pouch, and wherein once inserted the cellular phone chip is substantially held within the pouch by an interference fit with the substantially flexible sheet and the substantially rigid card body.
 2. The holder of claim 1, wherein the card body is approximately 2¾ by 2 centimeters in size.
 3. The holder of claim 1, wherein the card body is approximately 8 by 5 centimeters in size.
 4. The holder of claim 1, wherein the card body is composed of a material selected from the group consisting of plastic, wood, leather, fabric, nylon, vinyl, polypropylene, and polyethylene.
 5. The holder of claim 1, wherein the sheet is composed of a material selected from the group consisting of plastic, leather, fabric, nylon, vinyl, polypropylene, and polyethylene.
 6. The holder of claim 1, further comprising a second sheet having edges attached to the first side of the card body adjacent the other sheet and forming a second open pouch on the card body for holding another cellular phone chip.
 7. The holder of claim 1, further comprising one or more sheets each having edges attached to the second side of the card body adjacent one another and forming one or more open pouches on the card body for holding one or more cellular phone chips.
 8. The holder of claim 1, further comprising a sheet having edges attached to the second side of the card body adjacent and substantially encompassing the second side, the sheet forming an open pouch on the card body for holding a phone card, a business card, or a credit card.
 9. The holder of claim 1, further comprising a fastener attached to the second side of the card body for attaching the card body to another item intended to carry the holder and cellular phone chip.
 10. The holder of claim 9, wherein the fastener comprises an adhesive, a tape, a button, a snap, or VELCRO.
 11. The holder of claim 1, wherein the sheet has three adjacent edges attached to the first side of the card body and has a fourth edge unattached to the card body and forming an opening for the pouch.
 12. The holder of claim 11, wherein the fourth edge has a substantially triangular cut, the cut having a central portion being closer to an opposite edge of the sheet than ends of the cut that are adjacent the other edges of the sheet.
 13. The holder of claim 1, wherein the card body further comprises a writable surface positioned on the first side adjacent the sheet.
 14. The holder of claim 1, wherein the sheet further comprises a writable surface positioned on a side opposite that which is positioned adjacent the card body.
 15. A carrier for items including a credit card, comprising: a slot for holding the credit card; and a holder for a cellular phone chip, the holder being insertable into the slot and comprising: a card body having a first side and a second side and being substantially rigid; and a sheet having edges attached to the first side of the card body and forming an open pouch on the card body, the sheet being substantially flexible, wherein the cellular phone chip is insertable into and removable from the open pouch, and wherein once inserted the cellular phone chip is substantially held within the pouch by an interference fit with the substantially flexible sheet and the substantially rigid card body.
 16. The carrier of claim 15, wherein the carrier is selected from the group consisting of an organizer, a brief case, a piece of luggage, a calendar, a planner, a wallet, a computer case, and a mobile phone holder.
 17. A carrier for items, comprising: a surface on the carrier; and a holder for a cellular phone chip comprising a sheet having edges attached to the surface of the carrier and forming an open pouch on the surface, wherein the cellular phone chip is insertable into and removable from the open pouch, and wherein once inserted the cellular phone chip is substantially held within the pouch by an interference fit with the sheet and the surface of the carrier.
 18. The carrier of claim 17, wherein the carrier is selected from the group consisting of an organizer, a brief case, a piece of luggage, a calendar, a planner, a wallet, a computer case, and a mobile phone holder. 